Improvement in sewing-machine-table hinges



L. T. JONES.

SEWING-MACHINE TABLE-HINGES.

Patented Dec. 19, 1876.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

LEVIN T. JONES, OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINE-TABLE HINGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 185,543, dated December 19, 1876; application filed October 21, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEVIN T. J oNEs, of the county of Baltimore, and State of Maryland, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Sewing-Machine Extension-Leaves; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side view of my improved extension-leaf joint. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, showing the extensible arm depending from the fixed arm and Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are perspective detail views.

This invention has relation to improvements in looking hinge-joints for the leaves of sewing-machines, tables, and other like devices; and the nature of my invention consists in the arrangement and novel construction of the stationary plate, permanently secured to the under side of the table, and havin g on its outer end a transversely-slotted enlargement upon its under side, adapted to receive an endwise-movable and vibratory plate, having upon its inner end a locking-shoulder, and upon its extreme lateral edges journalarms, having their bearings in the front edge of the stationary plate, whereby means are provided for sustaining the leaf in a horizontal position, or of allowing it to hang at right angles to the table-top, all as hereinafter shown and described.

In the annexed drawings, the letter A designates an oblong metallic plate, designed to be secured to the under side of the table, with its edge flush therewith. This plate has upon its edge or end, next the edge of the table-top, a transverse enlargement, a, through which is formed a slot, b, and in rear of such enlargement ways or guides c, the object of which will hereafter appear.

As shown in Fig. 3, the front edge of the enlargement is narrowed by means of shoulders d, which project inward toward each other from the lateral edges of the plate, these shoulders d being designed to afford bearings for the journal arms of plate B. This plate is also of oblong form, and its inner end, whereby it is secured to the leaf, is

. bent upward, so as to bring the tops of the table and of the leaf in the same plane. Its free end will be rabbeted at e, and from the extreme front lateral edges of this rabbeted part journal-arms fwill project, upon which the plate B will vibrate vertically relatively to the tabletop. Arms f will have their bearings in the shoulders d, and the rabbeted part will allow the leaf-plate not only to have vibratory movement relative to plate A, but also endwise movement relative thereto. Consequently, by raising the leaf from a vertical to a horizontal position, and then thursting the leaf inward toward the table-top until their edges are together, the rabbeted part 0 will hold the leaf against vertical displacement.

It is evident that, by drawing the leafaway from the table until arms f reach their bearings in shoulders 01, the leaf may be readily lowered to the vertical position, a notch, 2', being cut or formed in the front lower edge of the slot-wall, thus, in connection with the leaf, the stationary plate and the vibrating plate forming a lock, which will effectually prevent the leaf from vibrating inward, and defacing the table-legs.

In this manner, without springs, quadrants, set-screws, or catches, I have devised a looking hinge or joint for table-leaves, which may be readily operated, is simple in construction, and both strong and durable.

In order to hold the leaf against casual edgewise displacement the inner end of plate B will have an upwardly projecting lip or shoulder, g. This shoulder will engage, as shown in Fig. l, with and behind the heel of the stationary plate, and thus accomplish the desired result.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the plate A, having the transversely-slotted enlargement b upon its under side, the ways 0, the bearing shoulders d, and the stop-notch t', and the endwise movable and vibrating plate B, having a rabbeted shank, e, jou'rnal-armsf, and lip g, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above 1 have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

LEVIN T. JONES. Witnesses:

W. S. WILKINSON, JAMES C. G. UNDUoT. 

